The Methow Valley

I’m still working through some West Coast scenes that I’ve been wanting to paint, and taking advantage of days in my studio before the next school semester starts.

Last July, on a full-day drive between Anacortes, WA, and Kelowna, BC, we descended into the Methow Valley from a road that snakes through Washington State’s North Cascades Mountain Range. There was snow on the peaks as we drove through a series of spectacular mountain passes. I sketched Diablo Lake and the Washington Pass Overlook along the way. But as the road dropped down into the valley the temperature on the car thermometer went up, and up and up. By the time we reached the town of Twisp the temperature peaked at 107°F. I wanted to sketch the ochre shades of the rolling hills but it was just too hot. So today, on a rainy and grey January day in Montreal, when it’s far too drippy to paint in my car, that scene came back to me.

On that scorching July day, the arid landscape of rolling hills continued as we drove north and crossed the border into the Okanagan Valley. After that drive, it came as no surprise that the next day forest fires began in the Okanagan. I hope to get back to the Methow Valley someday to paint, when the temperature is lower and the weather a bit more amenable to plein air painting.

Holly, I don’t know if you’ve ever had this feeling but sometimes the vision of a place stays with you for a long time. That’s what happened with this. I had to get it out of my system by painting it. Thanks for writing.

Hi Shari, this is our favorite place. We celebrate our wedding anniversary each year at Sun Mountain Lodge in May when the wildflowers are out, and we hike our brains out. We’ve been up there in the wintertime too for cross country skiing. It’s heavenly–no TV, just relaxation and scenery, then spectacular food and drink. There is no place on earth quite as beautiful as the Methow Valley. Early spring and late fall are the best times to visit–temperatures and vegetation are the best during these times. Check it out at:https://www.sunmountainlodge.com

Pam, I just looked up the location of the lodge. We must have passed right by it on our drive towards Twisp. Winthrop seemed really interesting too (in a Western sort of way) but it was crowded so we moved on to Twisp to have lunch. I will definitely keep this in mind. Sounds like the stuff I like to do to. Hike, paint, eat, drink. Perfect.

One of your gorgeous skies. I went back to see your other 2 paintings and didn’t remember them. But scrolling down, I commented on them. So much for my memory. Never been to this part of the country. It does seem beautiful.

Hi Shari. You mentioned about capturing the Ochre of the rolling hills,I see you have Raw Sienna in your palette, it looks like the Daniel Smith shade in the photo which I find quite red compared with say W&Ns but you have a really nice ochre on those rolling hills in the valley. What ochre are you using? At the moment we are enjoying the summer here in New Zealand and Im trying to capture those same ochres in the surounding hills around our home.
Im loving your regular paintings and sketches and “put a wash on and leave it” approuch.

Hi John, I can never decide if Yellow Ochre is worth keeping in my palette. I don’t use it that often but I certainly did for this. Raw Sienna would have been too transparent for this purpose. As for brands, both of these are Winsor & Newton. For earth colours like these, as well as Burnt Sienna, I am quite loyal to the brand. I have tried other manufacturers but the pigments are just not quite right if you are used to these. Enjoy your New Zealand summer!
Shari